Filter for fluids

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a filter for fluids, comprising a plastic supporting body for supporting a filter material. The outer surface of the filter is provided with a pump connection piece, which has a lower end extending in an inner space of the filter, which exhibits an inlet opening. The supporting body is composed of a first part comprising the pump connection piece and of at least a second part, both parts being movably linked to each other through a hinge section so that the at least second part can be positioned angularly in relation to the first part, along with the filtration material, and the first and the at least second parts being initially aligned in a same plane. A locking device is provided to lock the second part in the angular position in relation to the first part.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a filter for liquids, having a supporting bodyconsisting of plastics, which is supporting a plastics filter materialand having a pump connection socket positioned on the exterior of thefilter, the bottom end of which is extending into the filter close tothe bottom thereof comprising filter material and which is having aninlet opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A filter of this kind being a fuel filter for example is disclosed in DE39 14 938 C1.

Filters of this kind are characterized by an extremely simpleconstruction and being fuel filters are especially suited to be mountedin a fuel tank of vehicles. The filter function in this connection isprovided by the filter material wherein the supporting body has thepurpose to keep the top side of the filter body formed by the filtermaterial in a distance from the bottom side, because otherwise the twosides could partially adhere to each other which would lead to adecrease of the provided filter area.

For filters of this basic construction, there are existing severaldifferent fields of use, wherein constructions being performed as a fuelfilter are usually positioned close to a conveying means, especially afuel pump which is positioned within the fuel tank, too. At least by asuction line connected to the pump connection socket, the filter isconnected with the conveying means.

In many special cases in this connection there is a demand to providefor a filter area as large as possible in a very limited space. In fueltanks for example, there is the demand to position such filters in asmallest possible suction cavity such that a complete emptying of thefuel in the tank is possible. With known filters, however, due to theminimal necessary filter area there is a limit which was impossible togo below.

The invention therefore has for its task to create a filter of the abovedefined kind, in which in a very limited area a drastically increasedfilter area can be provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This task in accordance with the invention basically is solved by thefeatures, that the supporting body is comprising a first part containingthe pump connection socket and further at least one second part, thatthe first part and the second part are movably connected with each otherby means of a hinge section by the means of which the at least secondpart with respect to the first part and together with the filtermaterial can be folded from a linearly extended starting shape of thetwo parts into an angular position and that further a locking device isprovided for fixing the angular position. It is obvious, that by meansof this construction the filter has an extremely low space requirementin spite of a large filter area wherein nevertheless the filter can beproduced simply and at low costs.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the angularposition between the two parts which can be fixed by the locking deviceis 90 degrees. By this an extremely large filter area in very littlespace is provided.

According to an advantageous improvement of the invention, the lockingdevice is provided on the exterior of the top side of the filter,wherein further preferably the locking device is consisting ofinterengaging locking means.

For the sake of simplicity in this connection, preferably the lockingmeans are consisting of a fork shaped member, projecting from the firstpart on the top side of the filter and of a button shaped memberprojecting from the second part on the top side of the filter, whereinin the angular position of the parts a formfit and/or a nonpositiveconnection can be made between said members.

In detail it is further preferred, that the pump connection socket andthe two parts of the supporting body are injection moulded onto thefilter material forming the top wall of the filter, wherein the firstpart in the linearly extended shape is connected with the second partonly by the filter material. By this in a most simple way, the desiredhinge section can be formed without disturbing the function of thefilter.

Further, it is of special advantage that the first part of thesupporting body in the hinge area and preferably the second part of thesupporting body in the hinge area, too, are having supporting arms or-ridges or the like, which in the angular position are supporting thefilter material on the exterior radius of the angle.

In an especially preferred embodiment according to the invention, thefilter material forming the bottom of the filter is connected with thefilter material forming the top wall of the filter only by means of awelded seam forming the circumference of the filter partly orcompletely. By this the production of the filter according to theinvention is drastically simplified.

To provide for an easy movement of the two parts of supporting body withrespect to each other, it is further preferred, that the exteriorcontour of the filter is larger than the supporting body at least in thedirection of the movement of the two parts of the supporting body, whenestablishing the angular position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention is more detailedly described withreference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. The drawingsshow:

FIG. 1 is a lateral partly schematical crossectional view of a practicalembodiment of the filter according to the invention in the linearlyextended starting shape.

FIG. 2 is a filter according to FIG. 1 after obtaining an angularposition

FIG. 3 is an top view of the filter of to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional view taken along line IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V—V in FIG. 3 and

FIG. 6 is embodiment of the filter shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THEINVENTION

As shown in the drawings, the filter 1 for liquids, especially fuels, iscontaining a supporting body 2, consisting of plastics. The supportingbody 2 is supporting a filter material 4 to prevent the filter fromcollapsing when in use.

On the exterior 6 of the filter 1 there is provided a pump connectionsocket 8 of conventional construction, which with its bottom end 10 isextending into the interior 12 of the filter 1 close to the bottom 14thereof, which is consisting of filter material.

The pump connection socket 8 is having an inlet opening 16 for thefiltered fuel which is surrounded by a number of supporting ribs 17 suchthat the inlet opening 16 is maintained in a distance from the bottom 14of the filter 1. By the means of the pump connection socket 8, thefilter 1 is connected to the suction side of a fuel conveying means notshown and is forming therewith one unit which is positioned in theinterior of a fuel tank (not shown) of a vehicle. The fuel surroundingthe filter material 4 is flowing through the filter material into theinlet opening 16 wherein dirt or the like is separated by the filtermaterial 4.

According to the invention the supporting body 2 is consisting of afirst part 18 containing the pump connection socket 8 and at least onesecond part 20. The first part 18 is movably connected with the at leastone second part 20 by means of a hinge section 22 such that the at leastsecond part 20 with respect to the first part 18 and together with thefilter material 4 can be folded from the linearly extended startingshape of the two parts 18 and 20 shown in FIG. 1 into a preferably 90°angular position as shown in FIG. 2.

For fixing the angular position of the two parts 18 and 20 of thesupporting body 2 shown in FIG. 2, there is provided a locking devicegenerally designated by reference numeral 24.

As shown the locking device 24 is provided on the top side 26 of thefilter 1 and is consisting of interengaging locking means generallydesignated by 28 and 30.

In the embodiment shown, the locking means 28 and 30 are consisting of afork shaped member 32 projecting from the topside of the filter 1 whichpreferably is in one piece with the first part 18. The correspondingpart to the fork shaped member 32 is formed by a button shaped member 34projecting from the topside 26 of the filter from the second part 20thereof, which preferably too, is in one piece with the second part 20.

In the angular position of the two parts 18 and 20 of the supportingbody 2 shown in FIG. 2 in the embodiment shown, there is a formfitconnection between the members 32 and 34 due to the fact, that thebutton shaped member 34 was snapped into the fork shaped member 32.Alternatively for this purpose, obviously a non-positive connectioncould be used, too.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in the drawings, the pumpconnection socket 8 and the two parts 18 and 20 of the supporting body 2are injection moulded onto the filter material forming the top wall 36of the filter 1, wherein, as shown, the first part 18 of the supportingbody 2 in the linearly extended state is connected with the second part20 of the supporting body 2, as shown in FIG. 1, only by the filtermaterial 4. The first part 18 in this connection preferably is a unitarymember with the pump connection socket 8. Details of the kind ofproduction by injection molding members onto the filter material are inaccordance with a previous proposal of the applicant disclosed in EP 0400 170 B1.

The first part 18 of the supporting body 2 basically is consisting ofthe angular rib 19 surrounding the pump connection socket 8 and anarcuate rib 21 which is connecting the angular rib 19 with a strut 23.The angular rib 19, the arcuate rib 21 and the strut 23, are formed byinjection molding around the filter material 4 and are positioned partlyon the exterior of the filter material 4 and partly in the interior 12of the filter 1. On the bottom side of the parts 19, 21 and 23 thesupporting ribs 17 are preferably formed in one piece while on the topside of the strut 23 the unitary fork shaped member 32 is positioned.

The second part 20 being preferably, too, is consisting of a strut 25which too is formed by injection molding around the filter material 4and which on its side being on the exterior of the filter material iscarrying the button shaped member 34. The strut 25 in one piece iscontinued in a gridshaped member which, too, is formed by injectionmolding around the filter material 4. On the bottom side of thegridshaped member 27, there is provided a number of button shapedsupporting feet 29 which are preferably unitary with the gridshapedmember 27 and which are supported on the bottom 14 of the interior 12 ofthe filter 1 and therefore are keeping the bottom 14 in a distance fromthe top side 26 of the filter 1. By the gridshaped member 27 acomparably stiff shape is provided, which is facilitating the pivotingand snapping in of the part 20 into the first part 18.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings on the first part 18of the supporting body 2 and on the second part 20 of the supportingbody 2 each in the hinge section there are provided supporting arms or-ridges 38, 40 and 44, respectively, which are preferably unitary withthe respective parts 18 and 20. The supporting arms or -ridges 38, 40and 44, respectively, have the purpose as this especially can be learnedfrom the view according to FIG. 2 to keep the filter material 4 on theexterior radius 42 of the angular filter supported, which means that inthis area, too, an active filter area is maintained.

As can be learned from the views in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3, thefilter material forming the bottom 14 of the filter 1, is connected withthe filter material 4 forming the top wall 36 of the filter 1 only bymeans of a welded seam 46 which is forming the circumference of thefilter 1 completely or at least partly. To further not impede thepivoting of the filter 1 from the position in accordance with FIG. 1into the position in accordance with FIG. 2, the exterior contour 48 ofthe filter 1 at least in the direction of the ends of the pivoting parts18 and 20 of the supporting body 2 is larger than the longitudinalextension of the supporting body in this direction.

An important feature of the present invention is formed by the simpleway to produce the filter 1 having a comparably complex structure.Firstly the pump connection socket 8 together with parts 18 and 20 ofthe supporting body 2 as well as all additional supporting ribs orbottoms not described in detail, are injection molded onto a strip orfilter material 4 which was drawn through an injection molding tool.Thereafter a second layer of the filter material 4 being the bottom 14of the filter 1 is welded at the welded seam 46 to obtain the desiredfilter cavity which by suction previously has been cleaned of looseparticles. Thereafter the exterior contour 48 of the filter is stampedout as such contour for example is shown in FIG. 3. After in this wayhaving produced the filter 1 in the linearly extended starting shape inaccordance with FIG. 1 only the second part 20 of the supporting body 2is upwardly pivoted by 90° and the button shaped member 34 is snappedinto the fork shaped member 32.

It is obvious that in spite of the complex shape an extremely simplyproduction of the filter is possible.

In the above specification an exemplary embodiment of the filteraccording to the invention has been disclosed in which the supportingbody comprises two parts 18 and 20 which can be pivoted in a hingesection which can be snapped together. Obviously by the basic principleof the present invention embodiments are covered, too in which more thanone second part 20 is provided which with respect to the first part 18is pivotable. In this way the filter area almost deliberately can beenlarged and many different shapes of filters can be provided in whichstarting out from an extended position which is facilitating theproduction an operational position is possible and in which a number ofsecond parts 20 are pivoted with respect to the first part 18 carryingthe pump connection socket 18.

All details and advantages of the invention which can be learned fromthe specifications, the claims and the drawing including constructivedetails and positions in space can be important from the inventionsingularly as well as in a deliberate combination.

What is claimed is:
 1. A filter for fluids having a supporting body,comprised of plastic, supporting a filter material, and a pumpconnection socket positioned on the exterior of the filter with itsbottom end extending into the interior of the filter and a top endhaving an inlet opening, characterised in that the supporting bodycomprises a first part with the pump connection socket and at least asecond part, wherein the first part and the second part are movablyconnected with respect to each other by means of a hinge section wherebythe at least a second part with respect to the first part together withthe filter material can be folded from an extended starting shape intoan angular position and a locking device establishing the angularposition between the first part and the second part.
 2. The filter forfluids according to claim 1, wherein the locking device comprisesinterengaging locking means for fixing the angular position between thefirst part and the second part.
 3. The filter for fluids according toclaim 2, wherein the interengaging locking means comprises a forkshapedmember projecting from the first part on the top side of the filter anda button shaped member, adapted for snap fitting into the fork shapedmember, projecting from the second part.
 4. The filter for fluidsaccording to claim 3, characterised in that the pump connection socket,the first supporting body part, and the second supporting body part areinjection moulded onto the filter material part.
 5. The filter forfluids according to claim 2, wherein the pump connection socket, thefirst supporting body part, and the second supporting body part areinjection molded onto the filter material of the filter.
 6. The filterfor fluids according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is providedon the exterior top side of the filter.
 7. The filter for fluidsaccording to claim 6, wherein the pump connection socket, the firstsupporting body part, and the second supporting body part are injectionmolded onto the filter material of the filter.
 8. The filter for fluidsaccording to claim 1 wherein the pump connection socket, the firstsupporting body part, and the second supporting body part are injectionmolded onto the filter material of the filter.
 9. The filter for fluidsaccording to claim 1 wherein the pump connection socket is injectionmolded onto the filter material of the filter.
 10. A fuel filterconnectable to the inlet of a fuel pump comprising: a. filtrationmaterial adapted for folding and defining a filter cavity; b. aconnector for connecting to the inlet of the fuel pump and communicatingwith the filter cavity; c. a supporting body comprising a plastic firstpart injection molded onto the filtration material, and at least aplastic second part injection molded onto the filtration material,wherein the second part is pivotable relative to the first part adjacentthe folding portion of the filtration material, whereby the second partis angularly displaced relative to the first part; and d. interengaginglocking means for fixing the angular position between the firstsupporting body part and the second supporting body part.
 11. The fuelfilter of claim 10, wherein said interengaging locking means includes afork shaped member and a button shaped member adapted for snap fittinginto the fork shaped member.
 12. The fuel filter of claim 11, whereinthe connector is injection molded onto the filtration material.
 13. Thefuel filter of claim 10, wherein the connector is injection molded ontothe filtration material.
 14. A fuel filter connectable to the inlet of afuel pump comprising filtration material adapted for folding anddefining a filter cavity, a connector for connecting to the inlet of thefuel pump and communicating with the filter cavity, a supporting bodycomprising a plastic first part injection molded onto the filtrationmaterial, and at least a plastic second part injection molded onto thefiltration material, wherein the second part is pivotable relative tothe first part adjacent the folding portion of the filtration material,whereby the second part is angularly displaced relative to the firstpart; and wherein the first supporting body part further comprises aconnection member, and the second supporting body part further comprisesa connection member adapted for establishing a non-positive connectionwith the connecting member of the first supporting body part when thesecond body part is angularly displaced relative to the first body part.15. The fuel filter of claim 14, wherein the connector is injectionmolded onto the filtration material.